Preparing for the Worst? Household Food Stockpiling during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Serbia

Tarek Ben Hassen, Hamid El Bilali, Mohammad S. Allahyari, Sinisa Berjan, Darjan Karabašević, Adriana Radosavac, Goran Dašić and Ružica Đervida
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Tarek Ben Hassen: Program of Policy, Planning, and Development, Department of International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Hamid El Bilali: International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Mohammad S. Allahyari: Department of Agricultural Management, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht 41476-54919, Iran
Sinisa Berjan: Department of Agroeconomy and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of East Sarajevo, 71126 Lukavac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Darjan Karabašević: Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance in Belgrade, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Adriana Radosavac: Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance in Belgrade, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Goran Dašić: High School of Modern Business, Terazije 27, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ružica Đervida: Faculty of Economics, Independent University of Banja Luka, NUBL, Veljka Mlađenovića 12e, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Stockpiling and panic buying are significant components of crisis- and disaster-related consumption behaviors that have gained significant media coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aims to analyze the features of stockpiling behavior during the second wave of COVID-19 in Serbia based on a structured online questionnaire. This study seeks to answer two questions. First, what factors triggered and affected stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia? Second, how does stockpiling affect other food habits and diets? A total of 851 valid responses were received. The results highlight several features of the stockpiling behavior in Serbia. First, food stockpiling behavior is influenced by some sociodemographic variables such as gender and household composition. Second, stockpiling was fueled by several negative emotions such as fear, sadness, and depression. Third, the results confirm that stockpiling in Serbia was not triggered by supply shortages but rather by consumers’ concerns of obtaining enough food and rising food prices. Finally, food stockpiling was associated with some positive changes such as eating out less (e.g., restaurants/cafeteria), eating more with their family members, and cooking more food. Analyzing and comprehending consumer food stockpiling patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic may offer policymakers imperative information for adjusting supply and response strategies during future crises.

Keywords: COVID-19; food consumption; food shopping; stockpiling; panic buying; Serbia; Balkans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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